Pyromics Aims to Improve Biomass Analysis
Analysing lignin – one of the main components of wood – and other biopolymers is often a time-consuming process that requires significant manual work. Umeå-based Pyromics has developed a software solution designed to automate much of the analysis, enabling researchers to process larger datasets faster and with greater consistency.
As technicians and researchers analyse increasing numbers of samples and work with more complex bio-based materials, the need for efficient analytical tools continues to grow. Many existing software solutions still rely on manual peak picking and interpretation, creating a bottleneck in both industrial and research workflows. Traditional methods can also struggle to identify overlapping compounds in complex samples.
Pyromics has therefore been developed to address these challenges through automated data processing and peak deconvolution, reducing the need for manual work and enabling a stronger focus on interpretation and use of results.
From Manual Processing to Automated Analysis
The solution was recently presented by Dr. Oleksandr (Alex) Ilchenko at PYRO2026, the International Symposium on Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis in Pisa, where researchers and industry representatives gathered to discuss the latest developments in the field.
"We are moving away from the bottleneck of manual processing," Dr. Ilchenko noted. "By using sophisticated deconvolution algorithms, Pyromics allows researchers to analyze complex biopolymer samples in just 15 minutes, compared to usual 60 minutes. Furthermore, the automated processing component completes data analysis of dozens of samples in just 5 minutes, eliminating hours of labor-intensive work."
According to the company, the platform offers several advantages:
- Automated deconvolution of complex biopolymer samples
- Improved identification of co-eluted compounds
- Faster processing of large datasets
- Reduced manual workload and improved reproducibility
Shorter run times can also help reduce instrument wear, potentially lowering maintenance needs over time.
Enabling Faster and More Efficient Research
For researchers working with lignin, biomass and other bio-based materials, the ability to automate data analysis can shorten development cycles and make it easier to work with larger volumes of data. As demand for high-throughput analysis continues to grow, software solutions such as Pyromics may help remove a key bottleneck in biomass research and support more efficient research and development processes.
For Pyromics, the presentation at PYRO2026 provided an opportunity to demonstrate how automation can help researchers work more efficiently with complex biomass data. As analytical pyrolysis continues to evolve, software solutions that reduce manual processing may play an increasingly important role in both research and industrial applications.